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Pak. J. Bot., 43(2): 905-914, 2011.

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IMPROVING WHEAT PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH SOURCE AND TIMING OF NITROGEN FERTILIZATION

MOHAMMAD TARIQ JAN¹, MOHAMMAD JAMAL KHAN², AHMAD KHAN¹, MUHAMMAD ARIF¹, FARHATULLAH³, DAWOOD JAN⁴, MUHAMMAD SAEED AND MOHAMMAD ZAHIR AFRIDI¹

Abstract: Efficient nitrogen (N) fertilizer management is critical for the improved production of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and can be achieved through source and timing of N application. Thus, an experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of KPK Agricultural University Peshawar during 2005-06 to test the effects of sources and timing of N application on yield and yield components of wheat. Nitrogen sources were ammonium (NH₄) and nitrate (NO₃) applied at the rate of 100 kg ha^-1 at three different stages i.e., at sowing (S1), tillering (S2) and boot stage (S3). Ammonium N increased yield component but did not affect the final grain yield. Split N application at sowing, tillering and boot stages had increased productive tillers m^-2, and thousand grains weight, whereas grain yield was higher when N was applied at tillering and boot stages. Nitrogen fertilization increased 20% grain yield compared to control regardless of N application time. It was concluded from the experiment that split application of NH₄-N performed better than full dose application and/or NO₃-N for improved wheat productivity and thus, is recommended for general practice in agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.

¹Department of Agronomy, ²Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, ³Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, ⁴Agricultural Economic, ⁵Department of Weed Science, KPK Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan